More than 1000 people receive emergency food from Uckfield Foodbank

More than 1000 people received emergency food from Uckfield Foodbank in the year to March 2018.

Three day rations were provided to 1087 people – 450 of them to children – between the beginning of April 2017 and the end of March 2018. This compares with 643 the previous year.

The foodbank believes the local increase is due to people continuing to struggle with benefit payment delay, benefit changes, low income or debt.

It says it is working hard to offer practical emergency support to help prevent people going hungry while also participating in vital research and raising awareness about the issues local people are facing.

Lorraine Kirkwood, foodbank project manager in Uckfield said:

“We don’t want to be here forever. No one in Uckfield should need a foodbank’s help and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all.

“It doesn’t have to be this way – with a benefits system that catches people before they fall into crisis, and secure work that provides people with enough money to cover the cost of essentials, this is possible.

“But until that time, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most – we’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community with no money for food are able to access emergency support, and that has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. Thank you.”